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okay, while i did not find the specific information i was looking for, i did find some other useful info on why we need to explore space:
Colonization - in another twenty years it is estimated the population of the earth will reach over 8 billion. We could use a place to live.
International Diplomacy - we went to the moon to beat the Russians, now we're building the International Space Station as a way to work with the Russians. Go figure. In any event, prestige and international relations are among the most powerful reasons we've had for going into space.
Natural Resources - some day we may be able to mine the Moon for green cheese and the asteroids for minerals and ores.
Many applications that can be accomplished only from orbit, for example - telephone & TV communications around the world, weather observation and prediction (notably hurricanes), land surveys, and navigation (notably the Global Positioning System, GPS).
And here are some more technological advancements that benefit peoples lives as a result of space research:
Kidney dialysis, which has kept (and still keeps) countless people alive, came from the Apollo program.
New insulin pumps, which can eliminate the need for injections for diabetics.
And the space program is constantly producing new materials for prosthetic devices.
Also, NASA's development of small solid-state lasers led to the development of CD's and DVD's.
so basically, i don't want to hear people whining about how there is no benefit to exploring space. whoever says that is saying so out of pure ignorance.
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